Saturday is a crucial day for Kerala’s Left Front legislator and former Transport Minister Antony Raju as a trial court in the state capital is set to announce its decision in the long-standing underwear evidence tampering case that dates back over three decades. The Supreme Court overturned a Kerala High Court ruling last year, paving the way for the trial court to proceed with the case. Raju, who has been entangled in this legal battle, appeared before the trial court in December 2024 as per the Supreme Court’s directive.
The case originated in 1990 when Australian national Andrew Salvatore Cervelli was apprehended at Thiruvananthapuram airport for allegedly smuggling contraband concealed in his underwear. Raju, then a budding lawyer, represented Cervelli during the trial where he was convicted and sentenced to a decade in prison. However, the Kerala High Court later acquitted Cervelli, citing discrepancies in the evidence presented, particularly the ill-fitting underwear. This led to suspicions of evidence tampering, prompting a criminal case against Raju and a court clerk in 1994.
After a lengthy investigation and legal battle, the Supreme Court’s decision to revive the prosecution has set the stage for the impending verdict. Raju, who has faced both legal and political implications due to this case, awaits the outcome that could potentially bring closure to this prolonged legal saga.
